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Why Shedeur Sanders was shockingly selected to 2026 Pro Bowl after subpar Browns rookie season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cleveland Browns didn't have an offensive player selected to the initial Pro Bowl roster, which didn't come as much of a surprise after an ugly offensive season. That is now set to change.
Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders is being added to the AFC Pro Bowl roster as a replacement, Jordan Schultz reported, making him the first fifth-round rookie since Puka Nacua to be a Pro-Bowler.
The decision won't come without scrutiny. Sanders only started seven games for the Browns, completing 56.6 percent of passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. While the rest of Cleveland's offense didn't necessarily help him out, that kind of season isn't typical of a Pro-Bowler.
Here's what you need to know about Sanders' addition to the Pro Bowl roster in the AFC.
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How did Shedeur Sanders make the Pro Bowl?
The initial Pro Bowl roster is decided by combined fan, media and player votes.
The NFL is less transparent about the alternate process, so it isn't exactly known how a player is chosen as a replacement. Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence was named the top alternate the quarterback position when the initial Pro Bowl rosters were revealed in December, but it's possible Lawrence turned down the opportunity.
Sanders didn't rank within the top 10 among all quarterbacks in fan voting, but only four AFC quarterbacks did. Two — Josh Allen and Drake Maye — were selected to the Pro Bowl, while the next two — Patrick Mahomes and Bo Nix — are injured and unable to participate. That may be how Sanders ended up getting the nod.
Of course, fans could point to Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow and C.J. Stroud as some of the healthy options who, while imperfect, had a stronger body of work in 2025. It's possible some, or all, turned down the opportunity. Either way, the result is a first career Pro Bowl berth for Sanders, making him the first Browns quarterback on the roster since 2008.
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Shedeur Sanders Pro Bowl voting
While some might attribute Sanders' addition to fan voting, final voting results among fans show he wasn't even in the top 10 at the quarterback position. While the top 10 accounts for all quarterbacks, rather than just AFC quarterbacks, Sanders did not make the list.
Among AFC QBs, Maye and Allen made the roster while Mahomes and Nix are injured and unable to participate. Justin Herbert, who didn't rank inside the top 10, also made the roster, while Lawrence was an alternate but either was not selected to join the roster over Sanders or, more likely, turned down the opportunity.
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Who is Shedeur Sanders replacing?
It isn't yet confirmed who Sanders is replacing, but the answer is presumably New England Patriots QB Drake Maye, who won't participate as he prepares for Super Bowl 60.
Josh Allen and Justin Herbert are the AFC's remaining Pro Bowl quarterbacks. While Allen has pulled out of the Pro Bowl in the past, he remains on the roster at this time.
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Pro Bowl rosters 2026
AFC
| Player | Position | Team |
| Josh Allen | QB | Bills |
| Justin Herbert | QB | Chargers |
| Drake Maye* | QB | Patriots |
| Shedeur Sanders | QB | Browns |
| De'Von Achane | RB | Dolphins |
| James Cook | RB | Bills |
| Jonathan Taylor | RB | Colts |
| Patrick Ricard | FB | Ravens |
| Ja'Marr Chase | WR | Bengals |
| Nico Collins | WR | Texans |
| Zay Flowers | WR | Ravens |
| Courtland Sutton | WR | Broncos |
| Brock Bowers | TE | Raiders |
| Travis Kelce | TE | Chiefs |
| Joe Alt | OT | Chargers |
| Garett Bolles | OT | Broncos |
| Dion Dawkins | OT | Bills |
| Creed Humphrey | C | Chiefs |
| Tyler Linderbaum | C | Ravens |
| Quinn Meinerz | OG | Broncos |
| Quenton Nelson | OG | Colts |
| Trey Smith | OG | Chiefs |
| Zach Allen | DL | Broncos |
| Chris Jones | DL | Chiefs |
| Jeffery Simmons | DL | Titans |
| Will Anderson Jr. | DE | Texans |
| Maxx Crosby | DE | Raiders |
| Myles Garrett | DE | Browns |
| Nik Bonitto | OLB | Broncos |
| Tuli Tuipulotu | OLB | Chargers |
| T.J. Watt** | OLB | Steelers |
| Azeez Al-Shaair | ILB | Texans |
| Roquan Smith | ILB | Ravens |
| Devin Lloyd | ILB | Jaguars |
| Christian Gonzalez* | CB | Patriots |
| Derek Stingley Jr. | CB | Texans |
| Patrick Surtain II | CB | Broncos |
| Denzel Ward | CB | Browns |
| Jalen Ramsey | S | Steelers |
| Kyle Hamilton | S | Ravens |
| Derwin James | S | Chargers |
| Cameron Dicker | K | Chargers |
| Jordan Stout | P | Ravens |
| Chimere Dike | KR | Titans |
| Ben Skowronek | ST | Steelers |
| Ross Matiscik | LS | Jaguars |
*Will not play due to Super Bowl berth
**Declined to participate due to injury
NFC
| Player | Position | Team |
| Sam Darnold* | QB | Seahawks |
| Dak Prescott | QB | Cowboys |
| Matthew Stafford | QB | Rams |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | RB | Lions |
| Christian McCaffrey | RB | 49ers |
| Bijan Robinson | RB | Falcons |
| Kyle Juszczyk | FB | 49ers |
| Puka Nacua | WR | Rams |
| George Pickens | WR | Cowboys |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba* | WR | Seahawks |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | WR | Lions |
| George Kittle** | TE | 49ers |
| Trey McBride | TE | Cardinals |
| Penei Sewell | OT | Lions |
| Trent Williams | OT | 49ers |
| Tristan Wirfs | OT | Buccaneers |
| Drew Dalman | C | Bears |
| Cam Jurgens | C | Eagles |
| Chris Lindstrom | OG | Falcons |
| Tyler Smith | OG | Cowboys |
| Joe Thuney | OG | Bears |
| Jalen Carter | DL | Eagles |
| Leonard Williams* | DL | Seahawks |
| Quinnen Williams | DL | Cowboys |
| Aidan Hutchinson | DE | Lions |
| Demarcus Lawrence* | DE | Seahawks |
| Micah Parsons | DE | Packers |
| Brian Burns | OLB | Giants |
| Jared Verse | OLB | Rams |
| Byron Young | OLB | Rams |
| Zack Baun | ILB | Eagles |
| Jack Campbell | ILB | Lions |
| Cooper DeJean | CB | Eagles |
| Jaycee Horn | CB | Panthers |
| Quinyon Mitchell** | CB | Eagles |
| Devon Witherspoon* | CB | Seahawks |
| Nashon Wright | CB | Bears |
| Kevin Byard | S | Bears |
| Antoine Winfield Jr. | S | Buccaneers |
| Budda Baker | S | Cardinals |
| Brandon Aubrey | K | Cowboys |
| Tress Way | P | Commanders |
| Rashid Shaheed* | KR | Seahawks |
| Luke Gifford | ST | 49ers |
| Jon Weeks | LS | 49ers |
*Will not play due to Super Bowl berth
**Declined to participate due to injury
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